Electrical interconnection system

Abstract

An electrical interconnection system includes a printed circuit board having a receiving cavity therein. At least one circuit trace is located on a side wall of the cavity. An electrical connector is configured for insertion into the receiving cavity. The electrical connector has an electrical contact positioned to contact the at least one circuit trace when inserted into the receiving cavity.

1 . An electrical interconnection system comprising: 
 a printed circuit board having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a receiving cavity in the printed circuit board extending from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the printed circuit board, the receiving cavity defined by at least one side wall;    at least one circuit trace on the at least one side wall of the cavity; and    an electrical connector configured for insertion into the receiving cavity, the electrical connector having an electrical contact positioned to contact the at least one circuit trace when inserted into the receiving cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is connected to one of an electrical cable, a flexible circuit, and another printed circuit board.  
   
   
       3 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector includes a biasing member for retaining the electrical connector within the receiving cavity.  
   
   
       4 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact comprises a biasing member.  
   
   
       5 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity extends partially through the printed circuit board from the first surface to the second surface of the printed circuit board.  
   
   
       6 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity extends fully through the printed circuit board from the first surface to the second surface of the printed circuit board.  
   
   
       7 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall of the receiving cavity is substantially normal to a plane of the top surface of the printed circuit board.  
   
   
       8 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall of the receiving cavity is inclined relative to a plane of the top surface of the printed circuit board.  
   
   
       9 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity and the electrical connector include mating polarization features.  
   
   
       10 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall of the receiving cavity defines at least a portion of a curvilinear receiving cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall of the receiving cavity defines at least a portion of a rectilinear receiving cavity.  
   
   
       12 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second printed circuit board having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a second receiving cavity in the second printed circuit board extending from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the second printed circuit board, the second receiving cavity defined by at least one side wall; and    at least one circuit trace on the at least one side wall of the second receiving cavity;    wherein the electrical connector is configured for insertion into the first and second receiving cavities, the electrical connector having electrical contacts positioned to contact the circuit traces of the first and second receiving cavities when inserted into the first and second receiving cavities.    
   
   
       13 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second printed circuit board having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a second receiving cavity in the second printed circuit board extending from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the second printed circuit board, the second receiving cavity defined by at least one side wall;    at least one circuit trace on the at least one side wall of the second receiving cavity; and    a second electrical connector configured for insertion into the second receiving cavity, the second electrical connector having electrical contacts positioned to contact the circuit traces of the second receiving cavity when inserted into the second receiving cavity;    wherein the first and second electrical connectors are both connected a common one of an electrical cable, a flexible circuit, and another printed circuit board.    
   
   
       14 . An electrical interconnection system comprising: 
 a cavity formed in a planar printed circuit board, the cavity comprising: 
 a circumferential edge surface transverse to a planar surface of the printed circuit board; and  
 at least one electrical contact on the circumferential edge surface of the cavity; and  
   a plug connector comprising: 
 a dielectric body configured for insertion into the cavity; and  
 at least one electrical contact retained on the dielectric body, the at least one electrical contact of the plug connector positioned to engage the at least one electrical contact of the cavity when the plug connector is inserted into the cavity.  
   
   
   
       15 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 14 , wherein the circumferential edge surface of the cavity defines a closed shape.  
   
   
       16 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 14 , wherein the circumferential edge surface of the cavity defines an open shape.  
   
   
       17 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical contacts of the plug connector comprise biasing members.  
   
   
       18 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 17 , wherein the biasing members exert forces substantially parallel to the planar surface of the printed circuit board.  
   
   
       19 . The electrical interconnection system of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical contacts are positioned on at least two sides of the cavity and plug connector.  
   
   
       20 . An electrical connector for connection to a printed circuit board having a cavity formed therein, the cavity having an electrical contact on an inside edge surface thereof, the electrical connector comprising; 
 a dielectric body configured for insertion into the printed circuit board cavity;    an electrical contact retained at an outer surface of the dielectric body, the electrical contact of the connector positioned to engage the electrical contact in the cavity when the connector is inserted into the cavity.    
   
   
       21 . The electrical connector of  claim 20 , wherein the printed circuit board cavity has electrical contacts on opposing inside edge surfaces thereof, and wherein the electrical connector further comprises electrical contacts on opposing sides of the dielectric body, the electrical contacts of the connector positioned to engage the electrical contacts in the cavity when the connector is inserted into the cavity.  
   
   
       22 . The electrical connector of  claim 20 , wherein the dielectric body comprises a first portion configured for insertion into a cavity of a first printed circuit board, and a second portion configured for insertion into a cavity of a second printed circuit board, wherein the first and second portions each have an electrical contact positioned to engage the electrical contact in the corresponding cavity of the first and second printed circuit boards when the connector is inserted into the cavities.  
   
   
       23 . The electrical connector of  claim 20 , wherein engagement forces between the electrical contact in the cavity and the electrical contact of the electrical connector are substantially parallel to a plane defined by the printed circuit board  
   
   
       24 . The electrical connector of  claim 20 , wherein the electrical contact of the electrical connector is mechanically compliant.  
   
   
       25 . The electrical connector of  claim 20 , wherein the dielectric body is mechanically compliant.